Just Another Tuesday

 The first – and greatest – animated feature-length film ever and a ton of holiday stocking stuffers lead off the top DVD and Blu-ray releases for Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 …

 THIS WEEK’S TOP BLU-RAY AND DVD PICKS: 

‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’
The first full-length cel-animated feature in motion picture history becomes one of the biggest Blu-ray release of 2009. ‘Snow White’ remains one of most acclaimed films ever made: it ranked #34 on AFI’s 100 greatest films (2007 list) and the AFI also called ‘Snow White’ the greatest animated film of all time. The 1937 classic is the first in Disney’s new ‘Diamond Collection’ line of Blu-ray movies. This BD release includes new special features not included in the 2001 DVD Platinum release. Disney will also re-release ‘Snow White’ on DVD on Nov. 24, 2009. (New on two-disc Blu-ray, which includes DVD copy)

‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’
Repelled by the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find the true meaning of Christmas. Since 1965, this holiday tradition has aired every year and become a winter institution. The Peanuts gang gets a high definition makeover as the Charlie Brown gang’s holiday classic comes to Blu-ray. (New on Blu-ray)

‘Peanuts: I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown’
This 2003 Peanuts holiday special follows ReRun — the lovable but ever-skeptical younger brother of Linus and Lucy — and his search for a dog of his own. (New on DVD)

‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’
Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin) is once again alone for the holidays — but this time he’s in New York City with a wallet full of credit cards. Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern and Catherine O’Hara co-star. (New on Blu-ray)

‘Holiday Favorites Collection’
Includes Blu-ray editions of ’Miracle on 34th Street’ (1994 version), ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Jingle All the Way.’

‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1947 version)
When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing. This original 1947 adaptation won 3 Oscars and was nominated for ‘Best Picture.’ Stars Maureen O’Hara, Edmund Gwenn and John Payne. (New on Blu-ray)

‘Miracle on 34th Street’ (1994 version)
Richard Attenborough, Elizabeth Perkins and Dylan McDermott star in this 1994 remark of the holiday classic. Macy’s department store did not allow the filmmakers to use its name for the remake and 20th Century Fox refunded around 1,500 tickets to people who just didn’t enjoy the movie. (New on Blu-ray)

‘Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas’ (Deluxe Edition)
A grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville in this 1966 animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss holiday story. (New on Blu-ray)

‘Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who!’
The 1970-animated adaptation of the Dr. Seuss classic makes the jump to HD. Horton the Elephant struggles to protect a microscopic community from his neighbours who refuse to believe it exists. Special features include a feature-length look at works of Dr. Seuss as well as two additional animated stories. (New on Blu-ray)

‘The National Parks: America’s Best Idea’
Ken Burns’ latest series examines the history of the U.S. National Parks system, including the initial ideas which led to the world’s first national parks and the expansion of the system over 150 years. Six-hour long episodes featuring narration by Peter Coyote, Tom Hanks, Sam Waterston and more. (New on Blu-ray and DVD)

** Director Sam Raimi’s horror-genre label, Ghost House, is unleashing four tales of fright onto Blu-ray shelves this week:

‘The Children’ (Ghost House Underground)
A relaxing Christmas vacation turns into a terrifying fight for survival as the children begin to turn on their parents (Eva Birthistle and Stephen Campbell Moore).

‘Offspring’ (Ghost House Underground)
Survivors of a feral flesh-eating clan are chowing their way through the locals. Amy Halbard and Claire Carey strive to survive their abduction by the cannibals and save their children. (New on Blu-ray)

‘The Thaw’ (Ghost House Underground)
A research expedition to the Arctic discovers that a melting polar ice cap has released a deadly prehistoric parasite. Stars Val Kilmer. (New on Blu-ray)

‘Seventh Moon’ (Ghost House Underground)
A romantic trip turns into a nightmare for a pair of newlyweds when their taxi driver ditches them in a remote village whose locals offer them up as sacrifices for menacing moon creatures. Amy Smart and Tim Chiou star. (New on Blu-ray)

‘My Life in Ruins’
A travel guide (Nia Vardalos, ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’) rediscovers her romantic side on a trip around Greece. Richard Dreyfuss, Harland Williams and Rachel Dratch also star. (New on DVD and Blu-ray)

‘Ally McBeal: The Complete First Season’
One of the definitive shows of the ’90s finally becomes available on DVD. ‘Ally McBeal’ had not been released on DVD in the U.S. until now, due to music licensing problems — the same problem that also delayed the release of ‘thirtysomething‘ on DVD. Includes all 23 first season episodes in this 6-disc DVD set. (New on DVD)

‘Ally McBeal: The Complete Series’
The ultimate ‘Ally McBeal’ set: all 112 episodes of the popular Fox series in this massive 32-disc DVD set. (New on DVD)

‘Year One’
Jack Black and Michael Cera star as a pair of hunter-gatherers who embark on a journey through the ancient world after being banished from their primitive village. (New on Blu-ray and DVD) ** NOTE: ‘Year One’ was at the bottom of our recent ’summer movies of 2009′ list. **

‘The Gate’
Lionsgate re-releases this ’80s era cult horror movies that went out of print several years ago. Stephen Dorff stars in this story of three young children who accidentally release a horde of demons from the hole in a suburban backyard. This is the first widescreen release of the stop-motion scary movie – previous editions had been in full screen. (New on DVD)

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